معرفی
Professor Michaela Black serves as Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Ulster University within the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems. Based at the Derry~Londonderry campus, she leads significant research initiatives while maintaining active teaching responsibilities.
With a BSc (Hons) in Computing Science and DPhil in Artificial Intelligence from British Telecom (where she contributed to patented work US 7024426 B2 & US 20020183999 A1), Professor Black has published approximately 70 scholarly works across journals, conferences, and book chapters. Her research spans Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Big Data Analytics, Health Informatics, and Gamification, with particular expertise in Mobile Technology for Health and Adaptive AI systems.
Professor Black has secured major research funding including the €14.6 million LUCIA project on lung cancer risk factors (part of Horizon Europe's Mission on Cancer), the €4.5 million MIDAS project for public health policies, and the €3.6 million MAGIC project under Horizon 2020. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health and wellbeing.
- Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2017 Finalist
- Enterprise Ireland Outstanding Achievement Award (2017)
- Ulster Distinguished Teaching Fellowship Award (2015)
- Ulster University Civic Ambassador (2020)
As an educator, Professor Black emphasizes the research-teaching nexus, professional skills development, and entrepreneurship. She has supervised PhD students to completion and contributed to the Springer publication "Past, Present and Future of Computing Education Research - A Global Perspective" (2023). Currently leading multiple active projects through 2025-2028, her work demonstrates a sustained commitment to applying artificial intelligence to solve pressing societal challenges.
